FARMERS have been warned about a sophisticated Ebay scam where criminals pretend to be selling a tractor.

At least one farmer has already lost thousands of pounds after making what he believed to be a Paypal transaction before seeing what he was buying.

The Dorset Police Rural Crime Team said a local farmer who inquired about a cheap tractor for sale noticed something was wrong.

"The seller stated he was a farmer operating out of Sturminster Newton" said a police spokesman.

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"Not everything appeared as it seemed and enquiries were made. Enquires at the farm the seller was stating he was from revealed that a tractor was not being sold and that the seller was false. It also revealed the pictures on the site were stock photos from a sale a number of years ago.

"Fortunately, thanks to the vigilance of the farmer, no financial loss had occurred."

Dorset Police have contacted EBay to request the sale be taken off site and prevent further loss.